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In-stent restenosis and stent thrombosis are the major concerns while choosing a coronary stent. This single-centre, retrospective study evaluated the one and three-year clinical outcomes following implantation of Yukon Choice Flex (YCF) sirolimus-eluting stent. A total of 168 consecutive patients with 217 lesions underwent stenting with YCF stent. The presentation was with acute coronary syndrome in 158 (94%) patients. At 3 years, 9 (5.3%) patients died due to cardiac cause. Myocardial infarction, and definite stent thrombosis occurred in 10 (6%) and 4 (2.4%) patients respectively. Redo stenting and coronary artery bypass surgery was performed in 3 (1.8%) and 1 (0.6%) patient respectively. The use of YCF sirolimus eluting stent was associated with a favourable safety and efficacy profile at one and three-years of follow-up in a high-risk population.

The exploratory analysis of FOURIER trial has offered a ray of hope for patients with nonrheumatic aortic stenosis (AS). At present, the only definitive treatment of severe AS is aortic valve replacement (AVR). Despite transaortic valvular replacement revolutionizing the treatment of AS, it still remains a progressive condition, with no disease-modifying pharmacotherapy. Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, eplerenone, nitrates and statins all have been tried previously but failed to slow down the progression of aortic stenosis. Recently, there has been an emerging role of lipoprotein A [Lp(a)] in the pathogenesis of AS. This raises the possibility that long-term therapy with specific emphasis on Lp(a) reduction may reduce or slow the progression of AS.

Background: Among many drugs that hold potential in COVID-19 pandemic, chloroquine (CQ), and its derivative hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have generated unusual interest. With increasing usage, there has been growing concern about the prolongation of QTc interval and Torsades de Pointes (TdP) with HCQ, especially in combination with azithromycin. Aims: This meta-analysis is planned to study the risk of QTc prolongation and Torsades de pointes (TdP) by a well-defined criterion for HCQ, CQ alone, and in combination with Azithromycin in patients with COVID-19. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was made in two databases (PubMed, Embase). Three outcomes explored in the included studies were frequency of QTc > 500 ms (ms) or ΔQTc > 60 ms (Outcome 1), frequency of QTc > 500 ms (Outcome 2) and frequency of TdP (Outcome 3). Random effects method with inverse variance approach was used for computation of pooled summary and risk ratio. Results: A total of 13 studies comprising of 2138 patients were included in the final analysis. The pooled prevalence of outcome 1, outcome 2 and outcome 3 for HCQ, CQ with or without Azithromycin were 10.18% (5.59–17.82%, I2 – 92%), 10.22% (6.01–16.85%, I2 – 79%), and 0.72% (0.34–1.51, I2 – 0%) respectively. The prevalence of outcome 2 in subgroup analysis for HCQ and HCQ + Azithromycin was 7.25% (3.22–15.52, I2 – 59%) and 8.61% (4.52–15.79, I2 – 76%), respectively. The risk ratio (RR) for outcome 1 and outcome 2 between HCQ + Azithromycin and HCQ was 1.22 (0.77–1.93, I2 – 0%) & 1.51 (0.79–2.87, I2 – 13%), respectively and was not significant. Heterogeneity was noted statistically as well clinically (regimen types, patient numbers, study design, and outcome definition). Conclusion: The use of HCQ/CQ is associated with a high prevalence of QTc prolongation. However, it is not associated with a high risk of TdP.

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a relatively safe drug, and has been emerged as one of the treatment options for the management of COVID-19. This review is from the viewpoint of cardiologists, and it covers the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and mechanism of drug interaction of HCQ with the commonly used cardioactive drugs.

The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) of a 79-year-old male patient with recurrent pre-syncope showed irregular sinus rhythm with constant PR interval and left bundle branch block (LBBB) with intermittently blocked P waves. The beat following the blocked P wave had a narrower QRS with a shorter PR interval. The phenomenon of bilateral bundle branch block explains the sudden improvement in the atrioventricular conduction.

Background: Patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction in low resource settings may not have access to devices and expensive therapeutic options. We followed up a cohort of patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with very low left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF≤19%) on low cost medical therapy alone. By selecting patients with such low LVEF, this study was restricted to patients with severe disease. We studied long-term transplant free survival of these patients. Methods and results: The study enrolled 130 patients (83 men and 47 women) of DCM cohort with LVEF≤19% from April 2003–December 2018 on medical therapy alone. Mean age was 40.35 ± 13.9 years. Mean follow-up was 45.6 ± 39 months while median follow-up was 39 months (range: 0–176 months). Patients on devices (ICD/CRT) for heart failure management were excluded. Fifty-four patients died and three underwent transplant during the study. Median survival was 86 months (S.E. 22.38). 113 patients had follow-up till end of study. In the worst case scenario, if all 17 patients who were lost to final follow-up were assumed to be dead, the median survival was still 57 (S.E.9.28) months. Higher baseline NYHA class, recurrent heart failure hospitalizations, absence of treatment with beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers and aldosterone antagonists were predictors of death on univariate analysis whereas none of these parameters were significant on multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Median survival of our DCM cohort with LVEF≤19% on medical therapy was over 7 years.

Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is commonly used to assess the extent, location, and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), and for myocardial viability. DSE is generally well tolerated, and its side effects and contraindications are mostly related to consequences of excess inotropic or chronotropic stimulation of the heart. Bradycardia and transient atrioventricular (AV) block are not infrequent during DSE. Hereby, we present a case report of a patient who developed symptomatic junctional bradycardia during dobutamine stress echocardiography.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is primarily a bacterial infection of the heart valves. The most common organisms implicated include Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species. However, with the advent of MALDI-TOF and molecular techniques, the reports of IE being caused by rare organisms are on a rise. Here we describe a case of IE due to Abiotrophia defectiva. This is the first report of simultaneous infection of both mitral and aortic valves by Abiotrophia defectiva from India. IE caused by Abiotrophia defectiva has been seen to be more severe, associated with higher failure rates and relapse. This emphasizes the accurate identification of nutritionally variant Streptococcus (NVS) species as the management of choice varies between Abiotrophia and Granulicatella.